Connecter



23, 1938. 1 l w.A H. BARLow4 i 2,128,112

' CONNECTERl Filed. March 25, 1937 1fv F22:

nventor Zvwv Patented Aug. 23, 1938 VUNITED STATES V PATENT OFFICE CONNECTER Application March 25,

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to connecters or splicers for electrical wires, cables and the like, and has for an object to simplify and cheapen the construction of these. devices and at the same 5 time to provide a more eilicient and adaptable connecter or splicer for wires and cables of various sizes within the range of the device.

. Another object of this invention is to provide a combined spring seat or cup and jaw coupling .Il which may be made in one piece'of sheet metal;

eliminating the separate cups now used and providing means forl insuring proper alinement between the spring and the jaws and proper following of the jaws when the spring cup is retracted.

The invention provides a sheet metal cup and cooperating jaws, so constructed as to permit the easy assembly of the jaws on the cup and to maintain the jaws in proper alinement and at the same time permit a certain amount of bodily radial action required to accommodate the jaws to wires of different sizes.

Anotherobject is to structure which permits the jaws to be manufactured inexpensively each from a forging piece; instead of having to either make the jaws by the screw machine'method from rod stock and subsequent machining operations, or to make the jaws from a forging as now practiced requiring subsequent machining operations.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described herein'- after, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawing. wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout lthe several views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of a connecter or splicer embodying the features of this invention, the end in section showing the 40 parts in projected position ready to receive a wire or cable, and the other end showing in dotted lines the parts in clamping position upon the end of a wire or cable.

45 Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the connecter axially at right-angles to the showprovide an improved jaw f 1937, serial No. 133,048

one of the jaws, looking at the inner side of the same.

Figure 5 is a detail enlarged perspective view of the sheet metal combined spring cap and jaw retainer, and

` Figure 6 is a detail sectional perspective view of the same. y

Referring now to the drawing, 10 designates a casing which may be of tubular form and which has its opposite end portions I I tapered or gradually reduced to provide jaw contracting portions having reduced end openings l2 for the reception of the ends of wires, cables or the like. An expanding helical spring I3 is disposed vin the intermediate portion of the casing I0 and normally exerts an outward pressure toward the opposite end tapering portions Il.

At each end of the spring I3 is placed a combined spring cap and jaw retainer. This device may be made of one piece of sheet metal and has a cap portion I4 having a sliding flt in the casing I0 and engaging over the adjacent end of the spring I3 to take up the end thrust thereof and hold the spring I3 in proper alinement within the casing I0.A The' bottom wall of the cap I4 has a central projection I5 providing the jaw retainer. This projection I5 is of reduced diameter from. the cap portion I4 to accommodate the inner ends of the jaws thereabout and is adapted tol approach to a more or less extent into the adjacent tapering end portion I I of the casing. Each combined spring cap and retainer carries a group of jaws i6, three being shown in each group in the present instance.

The jaws I6 extend outwardly in to the tapering end portion II of the casing and approach the end opening I2 and have beveled inner Walls I1 for receiving the extremity of the wire I8 or the like as the latter is inserted through the opening I 2 to retract and expand the jaws for receiving the wire I8 therebetween. The major forward portions of the jaws I6 have outer tapering sides conforming substantially to the tapering inner wall of the end portion I I of the casing and the inner faces of thevjaws I6 are transversely corrugated to provide gripping surfaces I9 for engagement with the wire I8 to hold the latter firmly4 in the connecter and make the desired electrical contact therewith when the device is used for that purpose. The rear end portions of the jaws I6 have outer substantially cylindrical surfaces to lie with the confines of the cap portion I4 and are recessed at their inner sides to accommodate the retainer portion I5 therebetween.

Each' jaw I6 has an inwardly and radially exin Figure 2. Furthermore, the studs 20 permit a tending stud 20 at its inner end which slidably and somewhat loosely engages in an ,r adjacent opening 2| provided in the side wall of the retainer portion I5. These studs 20 and openings 2| are so relatively disposed on lthe jaws I6 and retainer portion I5, respectively, that the rear or inner extremities of the jaws I6 are held in spaced relation from the spring cap I4 to admit free pivotal action oi' the jaws I6 on the studs 20 at all times, whether the jaws I6 are under tension oi' the spring I3 or the jaws I6 are retracted by pressure of the wire against the end of the retainer portion I5, as shown at the left hand end free radial movement of the jaws I8 about the projection I5 to accommodate the jaws to wires and the like of various sizes within the limits of the connecter and also to the tapering crosssectional area of the casing end II. The studs 20 have a radial sliding fit in the openings 2| of the retainer portion I5,.have a pivotal movement to admit the independent swinging and settling of the jaws I6 on the wire I8 and against the tapering casing end II, and also are permitted ample rocking or canting movement to permit the necessary freedom oi the jaws I6 to move in all directions. 'I'he studs 20 also insure that the jaws I6 remain coupled to the spring cap I4 in 'all adjustments of the jaws, and the combined spring cap I4 and jaw retainer projection I5 and the jaws I6 with their studs 20 are so relatively proportioned to the casing held from separation from the retainer projection I5 while the parts are assembled in the casing I0.

The casing I has a longitudinal slot 22 near each end substantially registering with-the combined spring cap and jaw retainer so that a suitable implement may be introduced through the slot 22 between the cap portion I 4 and the inner ends of the jaws I6 for retracting the combined member Il, I against the tension of the spring I3 to loosen the jaws I6 from the end of the wire I8 when it is desired to free the same.

'I'he sheet metal cap Il with its projection I5 admits of ease in assembling the parts of the con-r necter and keeps the jaws IS in proper alinement. yet allows all necessary radial, pivotal and rocking movements o f the jaws I6 to accommodate them to different size wires or the like.

I'his construction also permits the jaws I6 each to be manufactured inexpensively from a single forging piece without subsequent machining operations, the stud 20 being forged with the jaw I 6 as a part thereof.

As shown in Figure l, at the left hand end thereof, when the connecter is not in use the jaws I8 are projected outwardly by the spring I3 into the tapering end II of the casing until the jaws I5 are collapsed into contact with one another. The jaws I6 are held in this projected position by the spring I3 acting through th combined spring cap Il and its jaw retainer projection I5, it being noted that the inner ends of the jaws I6 ar held from contact with the cap I4 by the radial studs 20. 'Ihe jaws I8-are permitted free swinging, tilting and radial movements in settling into the tapering end I I of the casingand against one another. The outer end bevel faces I'I of the jaws I8 are -located adjacent the opening I2 and are adapted to receive the extremity of a wire or cable which may be forced through the opening I2. The introduction of the wire I8 first retracts the jaws I6 against the tension of the spring I3 until the jaws I6 are retracted sufficiently into the I0 that the jaws I6 are/ tapering casing end II to permit the jaws to be cammed apart by their bevel edges I'I. At this time the wire I8 may slide backwardly between the jaws I8 until the extremity of the wire I8 engagea the end of the retainer projection I5, as shown at the left hand end of Figure 2.

By forcing the wire I8 a short distance farther into the connecter the combined spring cap Il and jaw retainer I5 is retracted against the tension of the spring I3 and the jaws I6 are freed or loosened from the tapering wail of the casing end II and may settle into proper positions about the end of the wire I8. With the jaws I8 in position about the wire I8, the pressure on the 1 wire may now be relaxed and the spring I3 permitted to expand and move the combined cap i4 and retainer I5 outwardly to force the jaws I8 toward the tapering end of the casing portion II with the result that the jaws I 6 are contracted upon the wire I8 and bind the gripping surfaces I9 thereon to rmly hold the wire I8 in the connecter and with a gripping and wedging action proportionate to the outward pull on the wire I8, as shown in the right hand ends of Figures Al and 2.

To release the wire or cable I8 from the connecter, a suitable implement is introduced through the adjacent slot 22, and into the space between the inner ends of the jaws I8 and the spring cap Il, and pressed against the cap I4 to retract the same against 'the tension of the spring I3. This operation withdraws the jaws I6 within the tapering casing end II and releases the pressure ofv so that the combined cap and retainer may be inexpensively manufactured from sheet metal and the projection I5 be of sumciently reduced diameter to fit between the inner ends of the jaws I 8 and provide an annular cup bottom of sui'ilcient width to cover the end of the spring I 3.

The recesses in the rear ends of the jaws I8 are of sumcient length to leave a space I8l at the outer end of the jaw retainer projection I5 for the extremity of the wire or cable I8 so that. should the extremity of the wire or cable become misshapen or unravelled, the distorted or frayed end of the wire or cable will not engage the gripping surfaces I9 of the jaws and prevent the uniform and even gripping of the jaws I6 on the wire or cable throughout the entire length of the gripping surfaces I8. f

What is claimed is:

1. A connecter for wires, cables and the like, comprising a casing having a tapering open end, an expanding spring in the casing, cooperating jaws disposed in the tapering end of the casing andy having studs at their inner ends extending radially inward, and a combined spring seat and jaw connecter having a cup portion receiving the end of the spring and having a radially apertured lhollow projection from the bottom of the cup receiving the radial jaw studs to connect the jaws to the cup portion and hold the jaws in relative longitudinal alinement for radial and pivotal and rocking adjustments when shifted in the tapering end oi' the casing to receive the wire therebetween and having inwardly directed studs on their inner ends, an expanding spring in the casing, and a sheet metal cap fitting over the end oi the spring to provide a seat therefor and having a reduced cylindrical projection pressed outward- 1y from the bottom of the cap and engaging between the inner ends of the jaws and having radial openings in the side walls of the projection receiving said jaw studs to connect the jaws to the cap with free pivoting and tilting and radial movements of the jaws relative to the .cap and to one another during the gripping of the jaws on the wire.

3. A wire connecter comprising a tubular casing having an open tapering end, an expanding spring in the casing, a cap fitted to the end of the spring and having a central straight sided bottom projection with radial openings therein, and a groupof jaws in the tapering end of the casing, said jaws having recessed inner rear portions receiving said projection of the cap and having round studs pivotally and tiltably and slidably engaging in the radial openings of the projection to retain the jaws in relative alinement and to the cap at all times.

4. A combined spring cap and jaw assembly for connecters of the type having a tubular casing with a tapering open end and an expanding spring in the casing, comprising a group of forged jaws adapted to be positioned in the tapering end of the casing and having recessed inner walls at their rear ends and inwardly extending studs forged thereon in the recesses, and a sheet metal cap adapted to engage over the adjacent end of the spring and having an axially disposed bottom projection of reduced diameter to engage in the recessed ends of the jaws, the outer surface oi' said projection being disposed in parallel relation to the axis of said casing, said projection having radial openings for thereception of the jaw studs to hold the same assembled on the cap and in relative alinement in the tapering end of the casing.

5. A connecter for wires and the like, comprising a tubular casing having a tapering open end and a longitudinal slot adjacent said tapered portion, a plurality of jaws disposed in said tapering end provided with reduced arcuate inner end portions, an inwardly projecting pin carried by the reduced inner end of each jaw, a sheet metal cylindrical cap slidable in said casing, a reduced hollow extension integral with said cap engaging within said reduced inner end portions of said jaws, said extension having openings to receive said pins, said openings being so disposed as to position the inner end portions in outwardly spaced relation to the adjacent end oi' said cap, and an expanding spring having an end thereof engaging within said cap, said .jaws when in clamping position being so positioned relative to said slot that a releasing tool may be inserted through said slot and positioned in the space between said cap and the inner ends of said jaws.

6. A connecter for wires and the like comprising a tubular casing having an open end, plurality of clamping jaws in said casing and movable longitudinally thereof, means carried by said body engageable with said jaws to move said jaws to clamping position upon outward movement of said jaws, said jaws having reduced transversely curved inner ends, an expanding spring in said body constantly urging said jaws to clamping position, a sheet metal cap interposed between said spring and said jaws, said cap having a cylindrical outer portion slidably engaging said casing and a cylindrical axial projection engaging within said reduced jaw ends, said projection having a plurality of clrcumferentially spaced apart openings, and radial studs carried by the reduced ends of said jaws loosely engaging in said openings.

7. A connecter for wires and the like comprising a hollow body open at one end, a plurality of clamping jaws in said body and movable longitudinally thereof, means carried by said body engageable with' said jaws to move said jaws to clamping position upon outward movement of said jaws, said jaws having reduced inner end portions, an expanding spring in said body constantly urging said jaws to clamping position, a member interposed between said spring andv said jaws, said member having a cylindrical surface slidably engaging said body, an axial projection integral with said member overlapping the reduced end portions' of said jaws, said projection having radial holes therein, and pins carried by said reduced end portions of said jaws engaging in said holes, s aid pins connecting said jaws to said member for swinging movement relative thereto.

8. A wire connecter, comprising a tubular casing having a tapering end portion to receive a wire therein, a group of jaws slidably disposed in the tapering end portion of the casing and having inner beveled faces at their outer ends adapted to receive the extremity of the wire thereagainst for retracting and expanding the jaws, said jaws having inwardly extending radial studs at their inner ends, an expanding spring mounted in the casing, a cap seated over the adjacent end of the spring and having a jaw coupling portion projecting between the inner ends of the jaws and having radial openings therein for the reception of said jaw studs to couple the jaws to the spring cap for longitudinal movement therewith, space the jaws eqidistantly about the coupling portion and to admit independent pivotal and radial ,tilting movements of the jaws in settling about the wire and against the inner wall of the tapering end portion of the casing.

WILLIAM H. BARLOW. 

